Namaste :)

Our class began with the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by attendance. We had a new student in class today and when I asked the other kids to tell her about our attendance routine, we had some light moments when the a couple of kids ended up saying “Present/here” instead of “Hari Om” as we usually do J . Next we had a quick revision of the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).

We learnt an interesting thing from two of the students – Shreya and Vedant, who taught us the significance of joining the hands in a “Namaste” pose for prayers. We join our hands and our thumb fingers point to our chest; this represents our praying for those who are dearest to us – our friends and family. The upright index fingers represent us praying for our teachers, the middle fingers, being the tallest, represent us praying for our leaders, the ring finger being the weakest, represents us praying for all those who are sick, poor and needy. Finally comes the tiny pinky finger, which represents us praying for ourselves.

We practiced the bhajan Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211) and revised the first 3 verses of the bhajan - Atma Nivasi Ram (pg 209-210).We also learnt verse 7 from the Gruru Sthothram (pg 85-86).

From the Bala Ramayana we covered the yagna performed by King Dasharatha resulting in the birth of the 4 princes – Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The children learnt about sharing as the queens Kaushalya and Kaikeyi shared their kheer with Sumitra. The kids were very amused and excited by the knowledge that Lakshmana and Shatrughna were twins born to Sumitra as a result of her eating two portions of the kheer!

We practised writing "Ram" in Sanskrit. We also practiced our vowels in Sanskrit. The kids got to color a couple of pages from the Ramayana story. We practiced the colors in Sanskrit by locating them on the rug. Finally, we concluded the class with meditation followed by the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).

For their homework, please make sure the kids revise their vowels and the Gurusthothram upto verse 7. Color the Ramayana sheet sent home, write your name and grade and insert the sheet into the folder.

See you at the next class. Please remember to bring you folders.

Have a good week! See you on at the next class.

First Day Of Balavihar - Welcome!

Let me begin by extending a warm welcome to our family of first graders for the year 2013-2014! I am really excited and looking forward  to this year's sessions...

Our class started with the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9). This was followed by an attendance/introduction session. It was wonderful to see that the kids remembered their daily prayers (Om Sahana Vavatu, Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).

We sang  the first 3 verses of a new Bhajan - Atma Nivasi Ram (pg 209-210).We also learnt verse 6 from the Gruru Sthothram (pg 85-86); the first 5 verses were covered last year.

We had a "fun" first class. Amidst getting serious with the regular shlokas, bhajans and activities, the kids shared a few tidbits about their plans for the day and their thoughts on "Ramayana". We will be covering "Bala Ramayana" with the first graders this year - each one had their own input to give as they are all familiar with the story in general. We discussed the first chapter from the book which was an introduction to Ayodhya and King Dasharatha. The children then proceeded to make their name tag with "Ram" written on it and decorated it with the image of a bow and arrow. They also drew and colored a picture of what they thought Ayodhya looked like at the time of King Dasharatha.

We practised writing "Ram" in Sanskrit. Finally,we concluded the class with meditation followed by the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).

As a part of their homework I would like the kids to revise their vowels in Sanskrit which they have already covered last year. We will be going over that in the next class before moving on to other things. Also, practice till verse 6 from the Guru Sthothram.

See you at the next class. Please remember to bring you folders.